Insulator



June 20, 1933-. o. KYLE 1,914,435

msuumox Filed Dec. 50, 1929 2 Shuts-Sheet 1 Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM D. KYLE, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO LINE MATERIAL COM- PANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN INSULATOR Application filed December 30, 1929. Serial No. 417,436.

This invention relates to electric insulators and. constitutes an improvement upon the insulator shown in my pending application, Serial N 0. 396,247, filed September 30, 1929 and which has resulted in Patent 1,877,903, dated September 20, 1932. While the insulator of the present invention is of general application, it is particularly applicable for dead ending insulated drop wires.

In electric wiring work it is customary for the wiring contractor to furnish the wire connections from the side of the building into the house. The power company extends a connection to the house from the pole carrying the power lines and at the same time it establishes a connection to the conductors located by the contractor on the side of the building and extending into the house. The incoming power wire is extended through an eye or perforation in an insulator or is wound around a groove in the insulator and the span is drawn tight. The end of the Wire is then bent back and twisted about the main part of the span wire to hold the same tight against the head of the insulator. A connection is then made between the span conductor and the wire extending along the side of the house. Heretofore, it has been necessary to solder the connection in order to secure a satisfactory joint having a low electrical resistance. It is a particular object of the present invention to provide an insulator adapted for dead ending a line, wire, wherein the insulator is provided with a terminal whereby the desired connections may be made without the necessity of soldering the connection. While the insulator of the present invention is particularly useful for dead ending a line wire it is also capable of other uses and I do not wish to be. limited to an particular use to which my insulator may e put.

In the embodiments of the invention herein illustrated, I provide an insulator having a body portion of frangible insulation, pref erably porcelain, although the invention is not limited to the use of such material. The insulator has an eye formed therein for receiving aline wire and it may, in addition, be

provided with a peripheral groove. The

insulator is provided with a terminal member, which may be of any approved construction, for establishing a connection between the end of the line wire and the end of the wire extending along the side of the building or the like. The terminal is mounted entirely within the body of the insulator, preferably within the eye of the insulator so that no portion of the terminal is exposed, thereby preventing accidental contact with the terminal. The use of a terminal obviates the necessity for soldering the connection and, since the terminal is secured to the in sulator and enclosed thereby so as to leave no exposed portions, it is not necessary .to tape the connection in order to guard against the swinging of the connection into contact with the building or with other grounded or live parts.

Another advantage of my invention is that it permits the power company to disconnect the line to the consumer outside of the building in a very efficient and simple manner.

Reference may be had to the applicants divisional application, Serial No. 454,959, now issued as Patent No. 1,821, 222, of September 1, 1931, and claiming certain features disclosed in the present application.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side View of an insulator and terminal constructed in accordance with my invention, said view showing the manner in which the insulator is adapted to be mounted Figure 2 is another view of the insulator taken at right angles to Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 are views similar to Figure 1 and showing modified forms of construction;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the terminal of Figures 3 or 4;

Figure 6 is an end view of the terminal of Figure 1;

Figure 7 shows a secondary rack employing insulators conducted in accordance with my invention;

Figure 8 is an end view of the rack shown in Figure 7 and Figure 9 is an end view of a modified form of secondary rack.

Reference may now be had more particularly to Figure 1. The insulator here shown comprises a body portion 1 of suitable insulating material such as porcelain or the like, having a transverse line wire receiving opening 2 constituting an eye. The insulator also has an end groove 3, for receiving the end of a line or wire. The groove 3 extends across the top or outer end of the insulator and is rounded and relatively shallow with its well rounded edges merging into the well rounded edges of the opening 2. The insulator is also provided with a groove 4, with well rounded edges, which may be used for securing a line wire to the insulator in a manner well known in the art. This is accomplished by turning a short length of wire around the groove 4 leaving the ends thereof free and then twisting the opposite ends of this short length of wire around the line wire thereby securing a good mechanical connection thereto. A wood screw 5, of the self piercing type, is cemented into the base of the insulator and provides means for mounting the insulator upon a wood support. The screw 5, which is made of metal, is adapted to be screwed into a wood support without previously drilling a hole therein. The shank portion of this screw is embedded in the body of the insulator and terminates at a distance from the opening 2 thereby providing suitable insulation between the screw 5 and any conductor that may be located within the opening 2. The screw may be embedded in the insulator during the process of molding the body thereof, as is well understood by those skilled in the art. \Vhen the insulator is made of porcelain, the screw 5 is embedded in a hole formed in the body of the insulator, being held therein by a suitable porcelain cement or by a lead filler. This is more clearly shown in my pending application, Serial No. 376,202, filed July 5, 1929, to which reference may be had for a further description of the manner of embedding the screw within the insulator. The insulator has a set of holes 6 and 7 formed therein on the opposite sides thereof. The openings 6 and 7 are each enlarged at their outer ends for receiving the head of a screw and are reduced at their inner ends, being of a sufficient diameter to permit the free passage therethrough of the shank portion of a screw. The terminal is of a construction such as is shown more particularly in Figure 6 and comprises a short rectangular block 10, of copper, brass or any suitable metal of high conductivity, said block having therein two openings indicated at 11 and 12 for receiving the ends of the conductors that are to be electrically connected together. A pair of screws 13 and 14 are screwed into tapped openings in the block 10 and their ends extend into the openings 11 and 12, respectively. These screws are provided for wedging the ends of the conductors within the openings 11 and 12 against the sides of the openings. The screws 13 and 14 are removed from the block 10 and the block is then inserted into the eye of the insulator, the block resting freely upon the insulator. The screws 13 and l t are then passed through the openings 6 and 7 in the insulator passing freely therethrough, and are threaded into the threaded portion of the block 10 in order to prevent removal of the block and to hold the same in the insulator. The end of one wire may then be inserted into the opening 11 in the block 10 and the end of another wire may be inserted into the opening 12, after which the screws 13 and 14 may be tightened to obtain a good contact. It is to be noted that the screws pass freely through the openings in the insulator thereby avoiding any stressing of the porcelain upon the tightening of these screws.

The insulator shown in Figure 3 is substantially identical to that shown in Figures 1 and 2, differing therefrom only in the means for holding the terminal member in place. This insulator is provided with an opening 20 through which a terminal member 21 passes freely with the end thereof extending into the eye 2 of the insulator. The insulator is in addition provided with an extending projection 22 for surrounding the end or head of the terminal screw to prevent accidental contact therewith from the outside of the insulator. The terminal may be of a construction such as is shown more particularly in Figure 5 and comprises a block 23, of a generally cylindrical shape and having a slot 24'formed therein. It is, of course, to be understood that if desired the block 23 may be of rectangular shape. 'A screw 25 is threaded into a tapped hole in the block 23 and extends into the slotted opening 24 for forcing a set of conductors that may be within the slot into firm electrical engagement with one another. This is illustrated in Figure 3. In this figure the ends of two conductors, that are to be electrically connected together, are indicated at 26 and 27 and the end of the screw 25 is in engagement with the conductor 26 and forces it into firm engagement with the end of the conductor 27, which bears against the end of the terminal 21.

If the terminal member 21 is of such a length that the end of the screw 25 does not project beyond the body of the insulator then the projecting portion 22, which is provided for protecting the end of the screw, against contact may be omitted. This form of construction is shown in Figure 4. This form of insulator is used where the head of the screw does not project beyond the body of the insulator. In other respects this insulator is identical to that shown in Figure 3. It is to be noted that in Figures 3 and 4, the terminal 21 is freely removable from the insulator when the conductors 26 and 27 are not inserted in the terminal and that when these conductors are inserted into the terminal they Cooperate with the insulator to hold theterminal in place.

Reference may now be had to Figures 7 and 8 showing a secondary rack construction suitable for dead ending a drop wire and embodying the principles of my invention. A metallic base 31, which may be of any approved construction, is provided with a numer of upstanding arms 32, 33, 34 and 35. Insulators 36 are mounted between theupstandingarms by means of a square shaft 37. The insulators 36 have a central square hole formed therein through which the shaft passes. A cotter pin or other suitable means is provided for preventing the inadvertent removal of the shaft 37 from the arms. The frame 31 may be electrically grounded if desired.

The insulator 36 is made of frangible insulating material such as porcelain or the like and all of the edges of the insulator are preferably well rounded, especially the edges around which a conductor may be extended. The insulator comprises a spool portion 39 which merges into the side portions 40 and 41, said side portions being connected by a portion 42, the entire insulator constituting one integral body. The space 43 between the portion 42 and the spool 39 constitutes an eye wherein the terminal may be secured. The terminal 44 is of a construction similar to that shown in Figure 6, differing therefrom in that the tapped holes in the block for receiving the securing screws are not located at the center of the block, but rather at the opposite sides thereof. The screw 45 is located as shown in Figure 8 and the screw 46 is located on the opposite side thereof, also as indicated in Figure 8. This arrangement is provided in order that a screw driver that is inserted into the slots or openings 47 and 48 of the insulator may clear the metallic sup port 35 or 34. It is understood that the block 44 into which the conductors are extended for connecting them together'is removable from the insulator in the same manner as is the terminal 10 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 shows a modified construction of the secondary rack. This construction differs from that shown in Figures 7 and 8 only in that the insulators 36 are mounted at an angle to the rack so as to clear the sup ports 32, 33, 34 or 35 as the case may be. Such a construction is necessary in places Where a wider supporting portion, such as 32 to 35', is necessary. This construction also permits the placing of the openings 47 and 48 in the insulator closer together. If desired, a terminal such as shown in Figure 5 may be used in connection with the insulator shown in connection with Figure 9. When this is the case then only one opening corresponding to the openings 47 and 48 is necessary and, this opening may be centrally located instead of being spaced on opposite sides of the center as are the openings 47 and 48. In such a construction, the insulator 36 need not be turned at such an angle to the member 35 as is shown in Figure 9 since a smaller angle will suffice.

The secondary rack may be used in a manner such as is shown in my pending application Serial No. 396,248, filed September 30,

1929 and which has resulted in Patent No. 1,821,221, dated September 1, 1931, for dead ending a drop wire. It is, of course, to be understood that the secondary rack herein shown is not limited in its use in the manner indicated in the above application.

In compliance with the requirements of the patents statutes I have herein shown and described a few preferred embodiments of my invention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to any of the specific instructions herein shown, the same being merely shown for illustrative purposes. What I consider new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An insulator comprising a unitary body of insulation having an eye formed by a transverse perforation through the body of insulation, said eye having well rounded edges suitable for looping an insulated wire therethrough and adapted to have a terminal disposed therein, said formed therein a second and smaller perforation extending in a straight line to said eye and at substantially right angles thereto, whereby a tool may be inserted into the second perforation to manipulate a terminal located in the eye, and a terminal in said eye, said terminal having a wire receiving opening therein parallel to the perforation of the eye and having a screw portion for clamping a wire in said opening, said screw portion extending into said second mentioned perforation.

2. An insulator comprising a unitary body of insulation having an eye formed by a transverse perforation through the body of insulation, said eye having well rounded edges suitable for looping an insulated wire therethrough and adapted to have a termiinsulator having nal disposed therein, said insulator having formed therein a second and smaller perforation extending in a straight line to said eye and at substantially right angles thereto, whereby a tool may be inserted into the second perforation to manipulate a terminal 10- cated in the eye, and a terminal in said eye, said terminal having a wire receiving opening therein parallel to the perforation of the eye and having a screw portion for clamping a wire in said opening, said screw portion extending into said second mentioned perforation, the screw portion of the terminal being removable from the body of the terminal and the body of the terminal being larger than the second mentioned perforation whereby when the terminal has been inserted into the eye of the insulator and the screw portion has been inserted through the second mentioned perforation and threaded into the body of the terminal the terminal is held against outward withdrawal.

3. An insulator having a body portion and a solid head portion and between the two a transverse perforation defining an eye with well rounded edges suitable for looping an insulated wire therethrough and over the head portion, and having a smooth walled opening extending from the eye to the outside of the insulator, a terminal within the opening and extending into the eye, said terminal being removable through said opening by a full sliding motion longitudinally of the opening and having a conductor receiving portion in the part thereof extending into the eye, whereby when the end of a conductor is extended into the eye and into the wire receiving portion of the terminal it serves to anchor the terminal against removal through the opening, said terminal including a screw member manipulated through said opening and serving to clamp in place a conductor extended into the conductor receiving portion of the terminal, said terminal, together with its screw member, lying entirely within the body of the insulator and spaced from the outer edges of said eye and said opening, and means for mounting the insulator in place, said mounting means being located,

with respect to said eye and said opening, to avoid interference with the manipulation of the terminal when theinsulator'is mounted in position.

4. An insulator comprising aunitary body of insulation, there being an eye formed in the insulation by a transverse perforation and defined by a wire receiving portion of insulation having a groove with well rounded edges formed on the outside thereof and merging towards the inside of the eye in a gradual curve free of sharp bends whereby a wire may be looped through said eye portion and drawn across the groove to draw the wire taut, a terminal having a wire engaging portion within the eye, said insulator having an opening extending from the outside thereof to the eye, and screw means extending in said opening and threaded into the terminal.

5. An insulator comprising a unitary body of insulation, there being an eye formed in the insulation by a transverse perforation and defined by a wire receiving portion of insulation having a groove with well rounded edges formed on the outside thereof and merging towards the inside of the eye in a gradual curve free of sharp bends whereby a wire may be looped through said eye portion and drawn across the groove to draw the wire taut, a terminal having a wire engaging portion within the eye, said insulator having an opening extending from the outside thereof to the eye, and screw means extending in said opening and threaded into the terminal, said insulator being provided with an outwardly projecting portion of in sulation substantially surrounding. the screw means, and said screw means terminating within said projecting portion.

6. An insulator comprising a unitary body of insulation having an eye formed by a transverse perforation through the body of insulation, said eye having well rounded edges suitable for looping an insulated wire therethrough and adapted to have a terminal disposed therein, said insulator having formed therein a second and smaller perforation extending in a straight line to said eye and at substantially right angles thereto, whereby a tool may be inserted into the second perforation to maniplate a terminal located in the eye, said insulator having formed integrally therewith an outward projecting -portion of insulation substantially entirely surrounding the periphery of the second mentioned opening, said outward projecting portion of insulation having an opening therein constituting a continuation of the second mentioned perforation, and a terminal in said eye, said terminal having a wire receiving opening therein parallel to the perforation of the eye and having a screw portion for clamping a wire in said opening, said screw portion extending into said second mentioned perforation and being manipulated by a tool inserted into the opening in said outward projecting portion of insulation.

7 An insulator comprising a unitary body of insulation having an eye formed by a transverse perforation through the body of insulation and located substantially symmetrically with respect to a center line of the insulator, said eye having well rounded edges suitable for looping an insulated wire therethrough and adapted to have a terminal disposed therein, said insulator having formed therein a tool receiving opening extending in a straight line to said eye and at substantially right angles thereto, whereby a tool may be inserted into the second perforation to manipulate a terminal located in the eye, said insulator having formed integrally therewith an outward projecting portion of insulation substantially entirely surrounding the periphery of the second mentioned opening, said outward projecting portion of insulation havlng an opemng therein constituting a continuatlon of the second mentioned perforation.

5 In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 26 day of December, 1929.

WILLIAM D. KYLE.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,914,436. June 20, 1933.

WILLIAM D. KYLE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as, follows: Page 4, line 27, claim 3. for f'full" read "free";and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of August, A. D. 1933.

M. 1. Moore.

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents 

